The body of Linden resident Mary Jo Bodnar was found behind a store in the city Aviation Shopping Plaza on Tuesday, one day after she was reported missing.Linden Police Department

LINDEN — The body of a woman found behind a store on West Edgar Road on Tuesday has been identified as a city resident who had a history of depression and had been reported missing on Monday, authorities said today.

Police said the body of Mary Joe Bodnar, 55, was found behind the Polish Slavic Federal Credit Union at 619 West Edgar Road — which is also Routes 1 & 9 — about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Detectives recovered some prescription pills at the scene and believe Bodnar may have died from an overdose, Capt. James Sarnicki said.

Relatives of the woman reported her missing about 1:20 p.m. Monday, and told police she had been suffering from anxiety and depression. Bodnar was last seen leaving her house about 7:30 a.m. and did not take any personal belongings, police said.

On Tuesday, police detectives and Union County Sheriff's officers with two bloodhounds scoured the neighborhood and surrounding industrial area searching for Bodnar without success, Sarnicki said.

About 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a worker at the Southern Smokehouse, located near the Polish Slavic Federal Credit Union in the Aviation Shopping Plaza, was taking trash out to a Dumpster when he discovered the body in an enclosed area behind the bank.

The body was taken to the Union County Medical Examiner's Office in Westfield. An Autopsy will be done later today to determine the cause of death, police said.